NEWBURYPORT — People across Newburyport are mourning the sudden death of former Ward 5 councilor and recent mayoral candidate James McCauley, who passed away Thursday. He was 62.
McCauley served on the Newburyport City Council for six years before stepping down in June for an unsuccessful attempt to unseat Mayor Sean Reardon in November’s election. Away from local politics, McCauley was head of services for Nokia’s Networks group covering North and South America.
Reardon called McCauley a “strong advocate” for his Ward 5 constituents and for the city as a whole.
“Today is a very sad day for Newburyport. I was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former Ward 5 City Councilor Jim McCauley,” Reardon said, in a statement. “Jim cared deeply about this community and dedicated years of his life to public service.”
He added, “While we did not always agree on every issue, I always respected his commitment to the people he served and his willingness to stand up for what he believed was best for Newburyport.”
Former City Council colleague Connie Preston said McCauley was a “tremendous asset to the people of Newburyport.”
“We often disagreed, but I always found Jim to be a valuable and trusted colleague. Jim had a brusque exterior but a heart of gold. Above all, he was a dedicated and loving family man. My heart goes out to his wife, Liz, and his children. He will be greatly missed,” Preston said in a statement.
Reardon praised McCauley’s decision to run for mayor, saying it took courage and commitment.
“Jim stepped forward because he cared about this city that he and his family made home after moving here in the 1990s. Last November, nearly half of the voters in Newburyport cast their ballot for Jim to become mayor. That is a significant legacy and a reflection of the trust and support he earned throughout the community,” Reardon said. He also expressed his condolences to the McCauley family.
In November’s election, Reardon garnered 3,518 votes, with McCauley getting 3,211.
To honor McCauley’s years of service to the city, flags will be lowered locally to half staff until the end of May, Reardon said.
During a January interview on the internet radio program Local Pulse, McCauley said when he came into the council he didn’t plan on serving 25 years.
“The council is a lot of work if you want to be a good city councilor. Because you can just show up and go through the motions, and that happens over time,” McCauley said.
As a member of the City Council, initiatives he led included post-COVID restaurant outdoor dining, working to create a strategic economic growth plan, and serving on the West End Fire Station Building Committee and Committee for Market Landing Park. He was also the co-architect of Newburyport’s current streets and sidewalks program.
A strong presence in his ward, McCauley would occasionally take a turn serving as a crossing guard at the Low Street, North Atkinson, Crow Lane intersection near Bresnahan Elementary. The intersection became a passion of sorts for McCauley, who strongly pushed for safety improvements at what he called one of the hardest intersections to navigate within city limits.
McCauley was also instrumental in bringing lacrosse programs to Newburyport High School and the community at large.
“A great friend and a great councilor,” former Councilor Mark Wright said, who added he and McCauley’s sons attended elementary school together decades ago.
Former Mayor Donna Holaday, who endorsed McCauley during last fall’s election, praised the late Storeybrooke Road resident’s tenacity and willingness to do battle with her during her final two years in office.
“Jim asked tough questions, challenged assumptions, and pushed me and my administration to do better for our schools and our children,” Holaday wrote back in October.
In a Friday statement, Holaday said the news of McCauley’s passing came as a shock.
“He was very brave to decide to run for mayor and helped shape many of the issues and concerns facing our city. He created the opportunity to bring these issues forward for open debate. Although I know he was viewed at times as a gruff city councilor he really was a kind and generous person. My heart goes out to his family,” Holaday’s statement read.
Funeral arrangements have not been finalized.